US marriage rate lowest in a century

But new analysis predicts a boost in next two years

7:27 AM,
Jun. 18, 2013

Written by

Sharon Jayson
USA Today

The marriage rate is at its lowest point in more than a century, and the number of marriages across the U.S. fell more than 5 percent during the recession. But a new analysis projects that pent-up demand and the large population of marriage-eligible millennials, ages 18-34, means more will be headed to the altar over the next two years.

Cultural changes about whether and when to marry, the fact that two-thirds of first marriages are preceded by cohabitation and the recession's financial fallout - including unemployment and underemployment - fueled the wedding decline. Projections from the ...